It is becoming increasingly common for high school athletes, especially football players, to suffer from brain injuries. Most of the brain injuries sustained by high school athletes are on the milder side and consist of concussions.
Many students who suffer concussions on the playing field may not even realize it until much later on, and the failure to properly diagnose the injury can have serious consequences. If athletes continue to play after a concussion, they run the risk of second-impact syndrome, where they sustain a second brain injury before their first one heals. Even a minor head injury immediately following a concussion can lead to brain swelling resulting in severe brain damage and possibly death.
A concussion poses much more serious problems for a high school student than it does for an adult. A teenager’s brain is still not fully developed, and therefore any consequences from a concussion will tend to be more severe. The potential for improper brain development is much more real after a teenager suffers a concussion.
It is important for high school coaches to educate their student athletes about the dangers and symptoms of concussions so that they can communicate to their coaches and trainers when they feel they are suffering from these symptoms. It is also important for coaches to be able to identify some of the main visual indicators of concussions so that they can take the proper course of action when they notice one of their athletes exhibiting these symptoms.
Most importantly, coaches have an obligation to play it safe with athletes who have sustained concussions and hold them out from practice and games until they are 100% certain that the student has completely recovered from the injury. Allowing a student to return to action before the concussion has healed can lead to disastrous consequences that will affect the student for the rest of his life.
Headaches are the most common symptoms of concussions. Other symptoms include light sensitivity, noise sensitivity, nausea, balance problems, double vision, concentration and memory problems, and a general feeling of fogginess.
It is important to consult an experienced brain injury attorney if you have sustained a concussion or a more serious brain injury. You might be able to recover damages depending on the circumstances of your injury.
If you need to speak with a brain injury lawyer in the Palm Beach County, Florida area, please contact the law offices of Craig Goldenfarb, P.A. today to schedule an initial consultation.
